I am looking right at my suitcases as I type this. After seventeen years since I moved to Utah I am finally flying back to Brazil to visit. I cannot believe it took me this long.
New Year's Eve is my holiday to work so I worked until 10pm before coming to Salt Lake to enjoy some of the New Year's night with the Britos and drive to the airport the following morning.
I am so excited to start the year with sunshine, fresh veggies from the garden, and family members I haven’t seen in a long time.
Today we had burger for dinner, and the girls know that for me homemade burger is the only way to go. I never buy frozen burgers. I rather make them myself using my mom's recipe. It tastes really good and everyone loves it. (Remember when I made them for 3rd of July?).
I also made pumpkin puree out of sister Murri's pumpkins. On Sunday she said I could grab them on her porch. I like using homemade pumpkin puree to make chocolate chips pumpkin cookies when I can. The girls helped me bake them and they were all gone before I could even take a picture. They were absolutely delicious!
I love this picture of Bianca and I. I hope one day she will look at it and remember all the fun we had on her school class parties throughout the years.
No matter how tired I am, overworked or sleep deprived I always find a way to volunteer at my girls school. This is something I don’t negotiate.
This year for her class Christmas party I helped the kids craft a peppermint wreath. I should have taken pictures but I was busy helping the kids tying knots and using the hot glue gun.
The kids had fun. I love their smiles and curiosity. And I love the warm hugs Bianca gives me every time she sees me entering her classroom.
I wanted to wait for Ale to come back from Brazil so we could watch the new Zootopia movie together, but I was afraid by the time he was back home the movie would no longer be playing in theater. So this past Saturday the girls and I headed to the movies to watch it.
I texted Ale the picture I had taken of him and the girls in front of the Zootopia cardboard cutout from when we watched Wicked a bit ago. I told him he was there with us. lol
Zootopia 2 is a cute movie. As cute as the first one. We had a good time. I love going to the movies with the girls. Together we've watched to over twenty movies at the theaters.
After the movies we had lunch a Pizza Pie Cafe. I love their salad bar!
This past week I’ve been juggling work, kids, Christmas, and everything in between while Ale is gone to Brazil. It’s been definitely busy days. I’ve been trying to come home between patients to check on the girls, and thankfully I’ve been able to finish my patients and come back home to chart before the girls bedtime.
Some Nights I can even watch a movie with them, which makes me happy. Time flies and soon enough I won’t have them around anymore as they will fly away from the nest to find new adventures and start building their own lives.
We are finally ready for Christmas! The house is decorated, the gifts are bought, and groceries are done.
Today Mindy picked up the girls to watch Bellas’s Christmas play. Unfortunately, I was working and couldn’t make it, but after seeing my patients I was able to meet them for dinner at Texas Road House.
On Friday we invited uncle Amauri to have dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. It was his first time there. We had a delicious meal and good conversation.
On Saturday we headed to Woods Cross for Brad’s birthday. Later that day we took Ale to the airport. He’s spending a couple of weeks with his family in Brazil as his dad will soon turn 80.
Our hair dresser canceled the appointment we had scheduled for all the Bellini girls and I was very disappointed. Our hairs need a good, fresh cut ASAP. Look at how long my hair is!!!
After Brad’s birthday party and after taking Ale to the airport we headed to the Brito’s house for a sleepover. The girls had a lot of fun together. I am so happy their friendship is still going strong.
Before coming back home we stopped to have lunch at Olive Garden- our favorite. Ale texted us and he arrived in Brazil safe and sound.
Bianca worked so hard on her state report and state fair. She did everything by herself which is very typical for her. She is independent and creative, and I am so proud of her.
Her state was Arizona and after writing a letter to them she got a package on the mail with a magazine, a map, and postcards of Arizona. She was super excited!
She did absolutely amazing explaining everything she had learned about her assigned state. She came up with a fun game and even made sure to have sweets for those who would stop at her station. I told her I could buy the Arizonan Prickly Pear Cactus Candy but she decided chocolate would be a better option. I do not blame her lol.
Good job baby girl! I love your little brain and your big ideas. You make us proud every day.
On December first Bianca already started getting worried because Twinkle hadn’t come yet. A copule of days later she arrived with a letter explaining the delay. North Pile was caught into a blizzard and all departures were delayed. I am sure there were little girls and boys all around the world as anxious as Bianca for their dear elves arrival.
Twinkle finally arrived with her elf sized suitcase and a beautiful Christmas outfit. She is so darling. We sure missed her and we are all very happy to see her again.
As always she will be watching behaviors and reporting naughtiness to Santa. The girls still need to write their letters to Santa and I’ve already told them if they do it last minute chances are the elves won’t have enough time to get them ready by Christmas eve.
Today the girls performed at their Christmas recital. Giovanna played and Bianca played.
They are learning and playing so beautifully! Practicing every day even for just thirty minutes can be a struggle but they get excited to perform to people.
The Britos came to watch them too! The girls were happy to see them. After recital we all had lunch at Texas Roadhouse and we walked around the mall. Tales, Ale, and I came back home with the little ones while Mindy stayed behind with Giovi and Claire.
Later they came back with lots of cute clothes and smiles. They love shopping.
Today we watched the much anticipated Wicked part two which premiered just last week. Because of that it’s been a bit of a hustle to find tickets. Today we woke up early to catch the 8:15 AM session at Cinemark. The girls are home for Thanksgiving break.
We were SO excited to finally watch the second part! When we watched the first movie last year I didn’t know there would be two parts so I was surprised when the movie ended with “to be continued”.
The wait was worth it though. The second movie is really, really good and I might have dropped one tear or two. The girls enjoyed it too. But now we are ready for Zootopia 2.
Bianca still LOVES horses and riding. So we decided to surprise her with English riding lessons. She will be riding at the Melville Stables and she is very excited.
I can already see the difference between western and English riding. The instructor kept the horse's head in the correct position while Bianca rode with a forward, upright posture. It was very interesting to watch.
Unfortunately, the riding had to be cut short because the horse was not feeling well, so Bianca learned about horse care. The stable has volunteering opportunities so I think I will have Bianca volunteer and learn how to care for the horses. Plus, she can get a discounted lesson rate by volunteering. And I know she will love being around the horses.
I just have to make sure she takes her anti allergic medication before she goes. I forgot she gets really bad allergies around horses. But she does not mind one bit.
Sometimes I cannot believe Bianca is in fifth grade. Today she performed Hope of America along with other fifth graders from her school. In 2023 her school decided not to participate in Hope of America with other schools from Utah County at the Marriot Center anymore. The school issued an email explaining the decision:
Dear Parents,
I am writing this letter to let you know that our school will not be participating in the Hope of America Student Showcase held at the Marriott Center each year in May.
For the past 21 years, our school has participated. Last year, we made the decision to continue with Hope of America for 5th grade students. Each year, including last year, our school has been allowed to remain seated after the show until their Parents come and retrieve them from their teacher. Having children wait to be picked up is one way we have had some control of the safety needed. I cannot control what others do but until now I could control what our families will do.
This year, I was told by those in charge of this program that our school will no longer be allowed to remain seated but will have to meet their Parents outside the Marriott Center. With this being the case, I cannot in good conscience have our school participate.
The first year we participated, it was scary and I said then never again if this does not change. I have been able to make it safe for our students up until now. I have always held my stance on this because of concerns for the safety of children.
With all of this being said, we have decided to prepare our own Hope of America program. I hope you can support this decision.
I was sad but I support this decision 100%. I felt so much better having Giovi wait for me on her seat when she participated in Hope of America at Marriot Center. After the show the pick up for other schools was chaotic with so many people everywhere. I would not like have Bianca go through that. It is just not safe!
Anyways, the children's performance was beautiful and touching. They put so much effort in learning and practicing the songs. They sang The Star Spangled Banner, Hope of America, This is America, Thank you Military, Utah- This is the Place, and We Can be a Light. I was very emotional.
Bianca closed the program with a reading part about my favorite song- We Can be a Light (about 3:42 minutes into the video). The lights from the gym were turned off and the kids used flashlights. It was so beautiful!
We Can be a Light
Wherever there is darkness, together we'll bring light
Let's shine on all God's children. Shine with all your might
For those who feel forgotten, who are lost along their way
This light's a new beginning, shine bright it's there to light the way
We can make this light shine brighter by reaching our hand
To the poor and to the needy all throughout this land
Let's combine our lights together into one enormous ray
This light's a new beginning shining bright it's there to light the way
All across America people reaching out their hand
Bring your light and join our chorus
Everyone shine bright throughout this land
We can be light shinning everywhere
All across America showing people that we care
Oh, let your light shine helping other find their way
We can turn the darkness night into to brightest day
We can be a light shining everywhere all across America
Hope of America is by far my favorite program because I do believe our children ARE the hope of America. They are pure and kind.
